Nature reclaims old summer camp

Despite plans for bids to clear buildings, property sits untouched

Buildings will be cleared from a former Poconos summer children's camp as part of an effort to preserve seven major tracts of land bought in recent years by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

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Posted Aug. 17, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Posted Aug. 17, 2014 at 12:01 AM

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Buildings will be cleared from a former Poconos summer children's camp as part of an effort to preserve seven major tracts of land bought in recent years by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Located off Snow Hill Road and straddling Price Township in Monroe County and Porter Township in Pike County, the property is part of a 664-acre tract in both counties that the DCNR bought and added to Delaware State Forest in 2010, said DCNR spokesman Terry Brady.

It was the site of Camp William Penn, a summer camp the City of Philadelphia operated for economically disadvantaged children from the 1950s until 2008.

A sign at the former camp's entrance reads: "This project is another major step to enhance Penn's Woods (as part of) a two-year, $200 million investment in Pennsylvania's state parks and forests."

According to a March 8 Pennsylvania Bulletin notice, the project involves "the salvage, demolition and disposal of the existing wooden structures and three steel structures for a total of 87 structures. Work also includes grading, topsoil and seeding."

The notice states bid documents were scheduled to be available in March and that the bid opening was scheduled for April, but Brady had no information available Tuesday as to when the work is supposed to start.

The DCNR bought this land in the face of growing residential development adjoining it and an increased interest among people to enjoy nature, said DCNR Bureau of Forestry Director Daniel Devlin.